Alternating sampling method for non-echo duplex conversations on a wearable device with multiple speakers and microphones

ABSTRACT

A wearable device includes a body having fasteners and a frame coupled between two fasteners. The frame includes first and second sections. A first portion of the body includes the first section of the frame and one fastener and a second portion of the body includes the second section of the frame and the other fastener. A speaker and a microphone are connected to the first portion and another speaker and another microphone are connected to the second portion. The body also includes a processor, memory accessible to the processor, and programming in the memory for configuring the processor to selectively activate the speakers and microphones such that a first speaker emits an output sound signal while a first microphone and a second speaker are deactivated and a second microphone captures an input sound signal during the emission of the output sound signal by the first speaker.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/753,529 entitled ALTERNATING SAMPLING METHOD FOR NON-ECHO DUPLEXCONVERSATIONS ON A WEARABLE DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE SPEAKERS ANDMICROPHONES, filed on Oct. 31, 2018, the contents of which areincorporated fully herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to electronic wearable devices andconfiguring embedded speakers and microphones to reduce echo duringduplex communication for the wearer.

BACKGROUND

Portable eyewear devices, such as smartglasses, headwear, and headgearavailable today integrate microphones and speakers. Users of suchportable eyewear devices may use the device to make phone calls or toperform verbal messaging that requires speaking and listening at thesame time, known as duplex calling. Duplex calling can generate echo,which is sound from a sending device's microphone being returned to thesending device's speakers from a receiving device's microphone detectingthe receiving device's speaker's sound.

Limiting the amount of echo in duplex calling can be useful. Forexample, echo increases sound distortion, and it is capable of causingso much distortion as to render the call incomprehensible, disorienting,and even painful for the people involved in the duplex call. Reductionof echo is an especially-felt need in portable eyewear devices, but itis a long-felt need in many other types of wearable devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations, by way ofexample only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like referencenumerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1A is a rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device, which includes a microphone and a speaker connected tothe left side of the eyewear frame, and a microphone and a speakerconnected to the right side of the eyewear frame, for use in reducingecho on a duplex call.

FIG. 1B is a rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device, which includes a microphone connected to the bottom ofthe left rim, a speaker connected to the left temple, a microphoneconnected to the bottom of the right rim, and a speaker connected to theright temple, for use in reducing echo on a duplex call.

FIG. 1C is a rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device, combining the transducers present in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1Bto have microphones on the bottom of the left and right rim, on the leftand right chunk, as well as speakers on the left and right chunk, and onthe left and right temple, for use in reducing echo on a duplex call.

FIG. 1D is a rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device, which includes speakers on the bottom of the left andright rim, the left and right chunk, and the left and right temple, aswell as microphones on the bottom of the left and right rim, for use inreducing echo on a duplex call.

FIG. 1E is a rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device, which includes speakers on the left chunk and the righttemple, as well as microphones on the bottom of the left rim, and theright chunk, for use in reducing echo on a duplex call.

FIG. 2A is a right side view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device, showing a substantially similar configuration to FIG. 1Aexcept that this figure shows a right microphone and a right speakerconnected to the inside of the right chunk of the eyewear device.

FIG. 2B is a right side view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device, which includes a right microphone connected to thebottom of the right rim, and a right speaker connected to the righttemple.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through the right chunk of aneyewear device, which includes a microphone and speaker connected to theinterior face of the right chunk.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an example hardware configuration of abandless watch device, which includes a microphone and speaker on thetop of the watch face, as well as a microphone and speaker on the bottomof the watch face.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an example hardware configuration of a bandedwatch device, which includes a microphone and speaker on the top of thewatch face, as well as a microphone and speaker in the buckle fastenerof the watch band.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an example hardware configuration of abracelet device, which includes a microphone and speaker on a frame inthe center of the bracelet, as well as a microphone and speaker in theclasp fastener of the bracelet band.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an example hardware configuration of anelastic band device, which includes a microphone and speaker on a frameattached near the middle of the band, as well as a microphone andspeaker in the fasteners that close the band loop of the elastic strap.

FIG. 8 is a high-level functional block diagram of an example echoreduction system including a wearable device, a mobile device, a callingnetworked mobile device, and a server system connected via variousnetworks.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the wearable device whenperforming echo reduction on a duplex call by activating a speaker andmicrophone that are separated by the wearer's body, and using the samespeaker and microphone for the duration of the call.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the wearable device whenperforming echo reduction on a duplex call by alternating the activationof speakers on one side of the wearer and the activation of speakers onthe other side of the wearer, with the activation of microphones on oneside of the wearer and the activation of speakers on the other side ofwearer, such that speakers and microphones on the same side of thewearer are never active at the same time, for the duration of the call.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that the present teachings may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components,and circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, withoutdetail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the presentteachings.

The term “coupled” as used herein refers to any logical, optical,physical, or electrical connection, link, or the like by which signalsor sound produced or supplied by one system element are imparted toanother coupled element. Unless described otherwise, coupled elements ordevices are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may beseparated by intermediate components, elements, or communication mediathat may modify, manipulate or carry the sound or signals.

The orientations of the wearable device, associated components and anycomplete devices incorporating speakers and microphones such as shown inany of the drawings, are given by way of example only, for illustrationand discussion purposes. In operation for a particular variable auralprocessing application, the wearable device may be oriented in any otherdirection suitable to the particular application of the wearable device,for example up, down, sideways, or any other orientation. Also, to theextent used herein, any directional term, such as front, rear, inwards,outwards, towards, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, up, down, upper,lower, top, bottom and side, are used by way of example only, and arenot limiting as to direction or orientation of any transducer orcomponent of a transducer constructed as otherwise described herein.

An example wearable device includes a body, which includes a firstfastener, a second fastener, and a frame coupled between the first andsecond fasteners. The frame includes a first section and a secondsection. The body is divided into two portions, with the first portionof the body including the first section of the frame and the firstfastener, and the second portion of the body including the secondsection of the frame and the second fastener. There is at least onefirst speaker connected to the first portion of the body, at least onesecond speaker connected to the second portion of the body, at least onefirst microphone connected to the first portion of the body, and atleast one second microphone connected to the second portion of the body.The body also includes a processor coupled to the body, memoryaccessible to the processor, and programming in the memory.

Execution of the programming by the processor configures the wearabledevice to perform functions, including functions to selectively activateat least one of the first speaker or the second speaker. The executionof the programming by the processor further configures the wearabledevice to selectively activate at least one of the first microphone orthe second microphone. The execution of the programming by the processorfurther configures the wearable device to emit an output sound signalvia the activated first speaker while the first microphone and thesecond speaker are deactivated. Additionally, the execution of theprogramming by the processor further configures the wearable device tocapture an input sound signal via the activated second microphone duringthe emission of the output sound signal by the activated first speaker.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by productionor operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the presentsubject matter may be realized and attained by means of themethodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

Reference now is made in detail to the examples illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and discussed below.

FIG. 1A is a rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device 100, which includes a frame 105 with a left lateral side170A including a left chunk 110A and a left temple 125A, as well as aright lateral side 170B including a right chunk 110B and a right temple125B. In the illustrated example, the purpose of both temples 125 is tofasten the eyewear device to the user's head. Each temple 125 has aproximate end, which is the end connected to the frame 105 in thisexample, as well as a distal end, which is the end that extends awayfrom the frame, and generally has an earpiece. The left chunk isconnected to a left microphone 116 and a left speaker 121, while theright chunk is connected to a right microphone 115 and a right speaker120. As shown in FIG. 1A, the eyewear device 100 is in a form configuredfor wearing by a user, which are eyeglasses in the example of FIG. 1A.The eyewear device 100 can take other forms and may incorporate othertypes of frameworks, for example, a headgear, a headset, or a helmet.Additional frameworks may also include a watch, a bracelet, or anecklace.

In the eyeglasses example, eyewear device 100 includes a frame 105,which includes a left rim 107A connected to a right rim 107B via abridge 106 adapted for a nose of the user. The left and right rims107A-B include respective apertures 175A-B which hold a respectiveoptical element 180A-B, such as a lens. As used herein, the term lens ismeant to cover transparent or translucent pieces of glass or plastichaving curved and flat surfaces that cause light to converge/diverge orthat cause little or no convergence/divergence.

Although shown as having two optical elements 180A-B, the eyewear device100 can include other arrangements, such as a single optical element ormay not include any optical element 180A-B depending on the applicationor intended user of the eyewear device 100. As further shown, eyeweardevice 100 includes a left chunk 110A adjacent the left lateral side170A of the frame 105 and a right chunk 110B adjacent the right lateralside 170B of the frame 105. The chunks 110A-B may be integrated into theframe 105 on the respective sides 170A-B (as illustrated) or implementedas separate components attached to the frame 105 on the respective sides170A-B. Alternatively, the chunks 110A-B may be integrated into temples(not shown) attached to the frame 105. As used herein, the chunks 110A-Bcan include an enclosure that encloses a collection of processing units,camera, sensors, etc. (e.g., different for the right and left side) thatare encompassed in an enclosure.

In the example of FIG. 1A, the left chunk 110A includes a leftmicrophone 116 and a left speaker 121. The right chunk 110B includes aright microphone 115 and a right speaker 120. A microphone 115, 116 is atransducer configured to convert sound into an electrical signal. Aspeaker 120, 121 is a transducer configured to convert an electricalsignal into sound. In the example, these transducers are shown as fourseparate transducers. However, it is also possible to have one lefttransducer perform the tasks of both one left speaker 121 as well as oneleft microphone 116, while one right transducer can perform the tasks ofboth one right speaker 120 as well as one right microphone 115. Inaddition, in configurations where there are multiple left speakers ormicrophones, or multiple right speakers and microphones, essentially anynumber of left speakers and left microphones can be condensed intoessentially any number of left transducers, and any number of rightspeakers and right microphones can be condensed into essentially anynumber of right transducers. As described in further detail below, theframe 105 or at least one of the left and right chunks 110A-B includecircuit boards that includes the left microphone 116, the rightmicrophone 115, the left speaker 121, and the right speaker 120. Themicrophones 115, 116 and the speakers 120, 121 can be connected to thecircuit board by soldering, for example.

Other arrangements of the microphones 115, 116 and speakers 120, 121 canbe implemented, including arrangements where the left microphone 116 andleft speaker 121 are not congruent to the right microphone 115 and rightspeaker 120. The left microphone 116 can also be multiple microphones,and the left speaker 121 can also be multiple speakers, positionedanywhere on the left half of the frame or on the left lateral side. Thenumber of left microphones 116 and left speakers 121 do not need to becorrelated. Likewise, the right microphone 115 can also be multiplemicrophones, and the right speaker 120 can also be multiple speakers,positioned anywhere on the right half of the frame or on the rightlateral side. The number of right microphones 115 and right speakers 120do not need to be correlated. The functionality of this echo reductiondevice and method is based in the bilateral nature of the device—thecomposition, location, and number of speakers or microphones on eitherside is not the focus. A transducer capable of receiving sound, atransducer capable of generating sound (these transducers could be thesame physical transducer) on both the left and right side (or first andsecond) side of the wearable device is the minimal configuration.Additional speakers and microphones on either side of the wearable mayimprove ease of use, but do not define the invention.

The microphones 115, 116 and speakers 120, 121 are arranged to faceinward toward the user in order to pick up speech input from the userand direct sound output more effectively toward the user. Outward facingmicrophones 115, 116 and speakers 120, 121 could be utilized for a morespeaker-phone type of phone call.

In an example, the microphones 115, 116 and speakers 120, 121 work inconcert to provide an improved quality phone call. Upon receipt of aduplex call to the wearable device, a processor activates the leftmicrophone 116 and right speaker 120, while the right microphone 115 andleft speaker 121 are deactivated. This bilateral call mode uses theuser's head to occlude sound, so that the left microphone 116 hasreduced absorption of the right speaker's 120 produced sounds. This canreduce echo experienced by a device in communion with the wearabledevice that would result if the left microphone 116 and left speaker 121were in use at the same time—only minimal occlusion can occur with awearable device if the two components are on the same side of the user,because there is less distance and solid matter to attenuate the soundwaves. This example also works using the opposite pairing, so that uponreceipt of a call the processor activates that right microphone 115 andthe left speaker 121, while the left microphone 116 and right speaker120 are deactivated. This also can reduce echo that would result if theright microphone 115 and right speaker 120 were used at the same time.

In another example, the microphone 115, 116 and speakers 120, 121 workin concert to provide an improved quality phone call. Like the firstexample, the processor activates a pairing of either the left microphone116 and right speaker 120 or the right microphone 115 and the leftspeaker 121, with the alternate pair being deactivated. In this secondexample, however, the processor rapidly alternatesactivating/deactivating the pairs (left microphone 116 and right speaker120, right microphone 115 and left speaker 121), at a rate greater thanthe human ear is capable of noticing the activation cycling. This has alow threshold of 5 Hz, and an optimum rate of 40 Hz or faster (e.g.,44.8 Hz and above), but the cycling could be as fast as the wearabledevice is technically capable of cycling the power to these transducers.When the device cycles at these speeds, the user perceives sound comingfrom the speakers on the left 121 as well as the right 120simultaneously, even though in fact the speakers 120, 121 are onlyproducing sound each ½ of the duration of the call. The same is truewith the microphones 115, 116, such that those on the other end of thecall perceive a continuous stream of sound, even though each side ofmicrophones are active only ½ of the duration of the call.

At the distances in use for a wearable device, the speed of sound as afactor in the algorithm controlling the alternating ofmicrophone/speaker pairs is negligible. A larger wearable device, awearable device that cannot utilize the occlusion effect caused by theuser's body, a wearable device that alternates materially quicker thanthe optimal example, or a wearable device that imperfectly alternatesbetween microphone/speaker pairs (such that the total active time isless than ½+½=1) may take the speed of sound into consideration to offerimproved results by for example, adjusting the alternation to introducea lag period between the deactivation of a speaker and the activation ofa microphone.

Although not shown in FIG. 1A, the eyewear device 100 is coupled to aprocessor 843 and a memory 844, for example in the eyewear device 100itself or another part of the system. Subsequent processing by theeyewear device 100 by the system, for example, using a coupled memory844 and processor 843 in the system to process the captured sound fromthe microphone 115, 116, process the outgoing sound to the speakers 120,121, and drive the activation of the pairs of microphone/speaker inorder to cause the echo reduction effects previously discussed.Additionally, some or all of these functions can be instead performed bya digital signal processor (DSP) 812. A DSP 812 is a specializedprocessor for handling sound processing, and utilizing a DSP to performthe sound processing and/or the microphone/speaker switching can allow amore generalized processor 843 to handle other tasks like networkingcommunication, power management, and other computing tasks necessary tothe continued functioning of the wearable device 100.

FIG. 1B is another rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device 100. This device is similar to the device as described inFIG. 1A, except in this example, there are no microphones 115, 116 orspeakers 120, 121 in either chunk 110. Instead, the left microphone 116is located in the left rim 107A, the right microphone 115 is located inthe right rim 107B, the left speaker 121 is located on the left temple125A, and the right speaker 120 is located on the right temple 125B. Inthis example, the microphones 115, 116 are closer to the user's mouth(e.g., within 2 centimeters), and the speakers 120, 121 are closer tothe user's ear (e.g., within 2 centimeters, which results in enhancedocclusion due to the increased distance between the microphone/speakerpairs, less sound necessary for the speakers 120, 121 to produce due totheir proximity to the user's ears, and less sound needed for a clearsignal to the microphones 115, 116 due to their proximity to the user'smouth, all resulting in reduced echo.

FIG. 1C is another rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device 100. This device is similar to the device as described inFIG. 1A, except in this example, in addition to the left microphone 116Bin the left chunk 110A, there is a left microphone 116A located in theleft rim 107A. There is also a left speaker 121A in the left temple 125Ain addition to the left microphone 116B in the left chunk 110A. This isparalleled in the right side as well: in addition to the rightmicrophone 115B in the right chunk 110B, there is a right microphone115A located in the right rim 107B. There is also a right speaker 120Ain the right temple 125B in addition to the right microphone 115B in theright chunk 110B. FIG. 1C is a combination of the microphone 115, 116and speaker 120, 121 placements from both FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.Advantages to this design are having more microphones working togetheron either side, allowing for better absorption of sound from the user,and multiple speakers working together on either side, allowing for alower perceivable volume to an outside observer while maintaining thesame volume for the user to, for example, increase privacy of the call.This example also demonstrates that there can be multiple leftmicrophones 116A-B, right microphones 115A-B, left speakers 121A-B, andright speakers 120A-B, acting together in the manner of an individualleft microphone 116, right microphone 115, left speaker 121, and rightspeaker 120.

FIG. 1D is another rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device 100. This device is similar to the device as described inFIG. 1A, except in this example, the left microphone 116 is located inthe left rim 107A, and the right microphone 115 is located in the rightrim 107B. Each side of the eyewear device instead has 3 speakers: thereis a left speaker 121A in the left rim 107A, a left speaker 121B in theleft chunk 110A, and a left speaker 121C in the left temple 125A.Additionally, there is a right speaker 120A in the right rim 107B, aright speaker 120B in the right chunk 110B, and a right speaker 120C inthe right temple 125B. As compared to FIG. 1C, this example furtheremphasizes the privacy effect: using three speakers per side allows eachindividual speaker to be quieter in order to produce the same perceivedvolume for the user. An outside observer will have a more difficult timehearing the content of the speakers due to their individually lowervolumes. This example also shows that the number of speakers 120, 121does not need to match the number of microphones 115, 116.

FIG. 1E is another rear view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device 100. This device is substantially similar to the deviceas described in FIG. 1A, except in this example, the left microphone 116is in the left rim 107A, while the right microphone is unmoved from theright chunk 110B. Additionally, the left speaker 121 remains in the leftchunk 110A, while the right speaker 120 has been relocated to the righttemple 125B. This example is to illustrate that the left microphone 116and right microphone 115 do not need to exhibit bilateral symmetry. Theleft speaker 121 and right speaker 120 also do not need to exhibitsymmetry. The lack of symmetry here is exaggerated, but even smalldifferences in symmetry are still supported.

FIG. 2A is a side view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device 100. Specifically, it illustrates the right side of theeyewear device 100, in a configuration similar to the example in FIG.1A. This example shows the right microphone 115 and right speaker 120 asattached to the right chunk 110B, and on the internal side of theeyewear device 100, to facilitate collecting user input and projectingcall output.

FIG. 2B is another side view of an example hardware configuration of aneyewear device 100. In this example, the right microphone 115 isconnected to the right rim 107B in order to achieve a shorter distancefor input sound to travel to the right microphone 115 from the user'smouth. Additionally, the right speaker 120 is located far back on theinterior of the right temple 125B. This position also facilitates ashorter distance for output sound to travel, by reducing the distancebetween the user's ear and the right speaker 120.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the right chunk 110B, righttemple 125B and the frame 105 seen in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2A. This exampleemphasizes that the right microphone 115 and right speaker 120 arelocated on the inwards facing surface 391 (e.g. as opposed to theoutwards facing surface 392) of the right chunk 110B. Interior to thechunk body 311 itself are computing components, which may include theprocessor 843, memory 844, and a digital signal processor 812 if itexists.

FIG. 4 is front view of an example hardware configuration of a wearabledevice, configured to operate as a watch. Watch straps or bands can beconnected to the fasteners 425, such as a leather strap, a NATO strap, arally strap, or any other strap or band used to affix a watch to alocation. Attaching a band or operating the watch in this examplewithout a band does not have a material effect on the functionality ofthe watch.

The bandless watch 400 has a frame 405 that can be divided into twohalves. The first half is connected to a first fastener 425A, which inthis example is a watch lug with a spring bar, a first microphone 115,and a first speaker 120. The second half is connected to a secondfastener 425B, which in this example is also a watch lug with a springbar, a second microphone 116, and a second speaker 121. The fasteners425 do not need to be specifically watch lugs and spring bars: they canomit the spring bar, or they could be a proprietary system for claspingor fastening a band to the bandless watch. The fasteners 425 are able toaccept and connect to some kind of band that conventionally can be wornaround the wrist.

These two halves of the bandless watch 400 are able to perform the samefunctionality found in the eyewear device of FIG. 1A (i.e., attachingthe watch to the wearer), using the display 450 and user's arm asocclusion devices to improve sound quality when performing a duplexcall. It is capable of using the method of activating a singlemicrophone 115, 116 and a single opposed speaker 121,120, and eitherleaving the initial pair selected on for the entire duration of thecall, or alternating between pairings (first microphone 115 & secondspeaker 121, second microphone 116 & first speaker 120) at a rate highenough to simulate sound from both halves of the bandless watch 400 to auser conversing on the call. Like the eyewear device 100, the locationand count of speakers 120, 121 and microphones 115, 116 does not need tobe congruent between both halves of the bandless watch 400. Singletransducers can perform the tasks associated with both the microphone115, 116 and the speaker 120, 121 of a single half.

FIG. 5 is front view of an example hardware configuration of a wearabledevice, configured to operate as a watch. This particular watch has aband connected to the device.

The banded watch 500 has a frame 505 that can be divided into twohalves. The first half is connected to a first fastener 525A, a firstmicrophone 115, and a first speaker 120. The first fastener 525A in thisexample is a buckle, connected to the frame 505 by a first strap 526A.Other first fasteners 525A could be a hook, or Velcro, or otherconventional watch fasteners.

The composition of the strap 526 can be any conventional material usedin a watch band. Some examples are leather, cloth, or metal. The strap526 and fastener 525A can also be semi-elastic, curved, and tensed, suchthat with pressure both can be deflected to open and allow a user'swrist to enter. With the pressure removed, both the strap 526 andfastener 525A return to their original shape, forcing the banded watch500 to remain on the wrist until such pressure is applied again, and thewrist is removed.

The first strap 526A has an interior electrical component (e.g.electrical connectors, such as wires, interconnects, or other electricalcontacts) connecting the first microphone 115 and first speaker 120 tothe frame 505. The frame 505 contains the processor 843 or digitalsignal processor 812, as well as the memory 844. The second half of theframe 505 is connected to a second fastener 525B, a second strap 526B, asecond microphone 116, and a second speaker 121.

The second fastener 525B in this example is a series of holespunctuating the second strap 526B designed to accommodate the bucklefirst fastener 525A. The second fastener 525B can be any fastener thatis able to connect to the implementation of the first fastener 525A.

The second microphone 116 and second speaker 121 are connected to theframe 505 containing the processor 843 or digital signal processor 812,as well as the memory 844. These two halves of the banded watch 500 areable to perform the same functionality found in the eyewear device ofFIG. 1A, using the display 450 and the user's arm as occlusion devicesto improve sound quality when performing a duplex call. The banded watch500 is capable of using the method of activating a single microphone115, 116 and a single opposed speaker 121, 120, and either leaving theinitial pair selected activate for the entire duration of the call, oralternating between pairings (first microphone 115 and second speaker121, second microphone 116 and first speaker 120) at a rate high enoughto simulate sound from both halves of the banded watch 500 to a userconversing on the call.

Like the eyewear device 100, the location and count of speakers 120, 121and microphones 115, 116 does not need to be congruent between bothhalves of the banded watch 500. Single transducers can perform the tasksassociated with both the microphone 115, 116 and the speaker 120, 121 ofa single half.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an example hardware configuration of awearable device, configured to operate as a bracelet 600. The bracelet600 has a frame 605 that can be divided into two halves. The first halfis connected to a first fastener 625A, a first microphone 115, and afirst speaker 120. The first fastener 625A in this example is a tightchain ending in a clasp, connected to the frame 605. Other firstfasteners 625A could be a buckle, or Velcro, or other conventional watchfastener. The fastener 625A can also be semi-elastic, curved, andtensed, such that with pressure the band can be deflected to open andallow a user's wrist to enter. With the pressure removed, the fastenerreturns to its original shape, forcing the bracelet to remain on thewrist until such pressure is applied again and the wrist is removed.

The first fastener 625A has an interior electrical component (e.g.electrical connectors, such as wires, interconnects, or other electricalcontacts) connecting the first microphone 115 and first speaker 120 tothe frame 505 containing the processor 843 or digital signal processor812 as well as the memory 844.

The second half is connected to a second fastener 525B, a secondmicrophone 116, and a second speaker 121. The second fastener 625B inthis example is a tight chain ending in a complimentary clasp,configured to accommodate the clasp first fastener 625A. The secondfastener 625B can be any fastener that is able to connect to theimplementation of the first fastener 625A.

The second fastener 625B has an interior electrical component (e.g.electrical connectors, such as wires, interconnects, or other electricalcontacts) connecting the second microphone 116 and second speaker 121 tothe frame 505 containing the processor 843 or digital signal processor812, as well as the memory 844. These two halves of the bracelet 600 areable to perform the same functionality found in the eyewear device ofFIG. 1A, using the length of the first fastener 625A and the user's armas occlusion devices to improve sound quality when performing a duplexcall. The bracelet 600 is capable of using the method of activating asingle microphone 115, 116 and a single opposed speaker 121, 120, andeither leaving the initial pair selected activated for the entireduration of the call, or alternating between pairings (first microphone115 and second speaker 121, second microphone 116 and first speaker 120)at a rate high enough to simulate sound from both halves of the bracelet600 to a user conversing on the call.

Like the eyewear device 100, the location and count of speakers 120, 121and microphones 115, 116 does not need to be congruent between bothhalves of the bracelet 600. Single transducers can perform the tasksassociated with both the microphone 115, 116 and the speaker 120, 121 ofa single half.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an example hardware configuration of awearable device, configured to operate as a band 700. This band may beworn on the head, but other bands could be worn around different partsof the user's body.

The band 700 has a frame that can be divided into two halves. The firsthalf is connected to a first fastener 725A, a first microphone 115, anda first speaker 120. The first fastener in this example is a plastichooking clasp, connected to the frame 705 by an elastic strap 726 thatruns from the first fastener 725A, through the frame 705, to the secondfastener 725B. Other first fasteners could be a buckle, or Velcro, orother conventional band fastener.

The first fastener 725A and elastic strap 726 has an interior electricalcomponent (e.g. electrical connectors, such as wires, interconnects, orother electrical contacts) connecting the first microphone 115 and firstspeaker 120 to the frame 705 containing the processor 843 or digitalsignal processor 812, as well as the memory 844.

The second half is connected to a second fastener 725B, a secondmicrophone 116, and a second speaker 121. The second fastener 725B canbe essentially any fastener that is able to connect to theimplementation of the first fastener 725A. The second microphone 116 andsecond speaker are connected to the second half of the frame 705containing the processor 843 or digital signal processor 812, as well asthe memory 844. These two halves of the band 700 are able to perform thesame functionality found in the eyewear device of FIG. 1A, using theuser's body as an occlusion device to improve sound quality whenperforming a duplex call. The band 700 is capable of using the method ofactivating a single microphone 115, 116 and a single opposed speaker121, 120, and either leaving the initial pair selected active for theentire duration of the call or alternating between pairings (firstmicrophone 115 & second speaker 121, second microphone 116 & firstspeaker 120) at a rate high enough to simulate sound from both halves ofthe band 700 to a user conversing on the call.

Like the eyewear device 100, the location and count of speakers 120, 121and microphones 115, 116 does not need to be congruent between bothhalves of the band 700. Single transducers can perform the tasksassociated with both the microphone 115, 116 and the speaker 120, 121 ofa single half.

FIG. 8 is a high level functional block diagram of an example wearabledevice echo reduction system 800 for non-echo duplex conversations. Thewearable device echo reduction system 800 includes the wearable device810 itself, a mobile device 890, and a server system 898. Mobile device890 may be a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer, access point, or anyother such device capable of connecting with wearable device 810 using awireless connection 837. Mobile device 890 is connected to server system898 and network 895. The network 895 may include wired and/or wirelessconnections. For duplex calling, there is also another networked mobiledevice 892 being operated by a second party on the duplex call. Thisnetworked mobile device 892 sends and receives digital audio signalsover the network 895 to the mobile device 890, which can process andthen forward audio data to the wearable device 810.

Server system 898 may be one or more computing devices as part of aservice or network computing system, for example, that include aprocessor, a memory, and network communication interface to communicateover the network 895 with the mobile device 890 and wearable device 810.Execution of the programming by the processor of the server system 898can cause the server system 898 to perform some or all of the functionsdescribed herein, for example, to transform the sound pattern from thefirst 115 and second 116 array of microphones into a single stereostream, or split a stereo stream into separate streams for the first 120and second 121 array of speakers.

Wearable device 810 may optionally include additional peripheral deviceelements and a display integrated with wearable device 810. Suchperipheral device elements may include biometric sensors, additionalsensors, or display elements integrated with wearable device 810. Forexample, peripheral device elements may include any I/O componentsincluding output components, motion components, position components, orany other such elements described herein.

Output components include visual components (e.g., a display such as aplasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, aliquid crystal display (LCD), or a projector), acoustic components(e.g., speakers) not used in duplex calling, haptic components (e.g., avibratory motor), other signal generators, and so forth. The inputcomponents include alphanumeric input components (e.g., a keyboard, atouch screen configured to receive alphanumeric input, a photo-opticalkeyboard, or other alphanumeric input components), point-based inputcomponents (e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motionsensor, or other pointing instruments), tactile input components (e.g.,a physical button, a touch screen that provides location and force oftouches or touch gestures, or other tactile input components), audioinput components (e.g., a microphone) not used in duplex calling, andthe like.

For example, the biometric components may include components to detectexpressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocalexpressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measure biosignals (e.g.,blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, or brainwaves), identify a person (e.g., voice identification, retinalidentification, facial identification, fingerprint identification, orelectroencephalogram based identification), and the like. The motioncomponents include acceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometer),gravitation sensor components, rotation sensor components (e.g.,gyroscope), and so forth. The position components include locationsensor components to generate location coordinates (e.g., a GlobalPositioning System (GPS) receiver component), WiFi or Bluetooth™transceivers to generate positioning system coordinates, altitude sensorcomponents (e.g., altimeters or barometers that detect air pressure fromwhich altitude may be derived), orientation sensor components (e.g.,magnetometers), and the like. Such location coordinates can also bereceived over wireless connections 837 from the mobile device 890 viathe wireless circuitry 845.

Wearable device 810 includes a body containing a first array of speakers120, a second array of speakers 121, a first array of microphones 115, asecond array of microphones 116, and in this example, it includes theoptional digital signal processor 812. The body is divisible roughlyinto two halves. The functionality of the digital signal processor canbe integrated fully or in part into the processor 843 functionality, themobile device 890, or the server system 898. The arrays of speakers 120,121 and microphones 115, 116 can each have one or more speakers ormicrophones respectively within their arrays—arrays of one are validarrays. Additionally the physical microphones, for example 120A and115A, can be combined into a single physical transducer. The arrays 115,116, 120, 121 are conceptual, and do not necessarily physicallyexist—e.g., they allow for facilitating discussing the relationshipsbetween speakers, microphones, outputs, and inputs, but a physicalimplementation will generally see the digital signal processor 812 orthe processor 843 having programming to know which conceptual array 115,116, 120, 121 a speaker 120A-C 121A-C or microphone 115A-C 116A-Cbelongs to. The speakers 120A-C in the first speaker array 120 are allphysically on the first side of the body of the wearable device. Thespeakers 121A-C in the second speaker array 121 are all physically onthe second side of the body of the wearable device. The microphones115A-C in the first microphone array 115 are all physically on the firstside of the body of the wearable device. The microphones 116A-C in thesecond microphone array 116 are all physically on the second side of thebody of the wearable device. The components within the wearable device810 are located on one or more circuit boards, for example a PCB orflexible PCB, in the chunks or frames. Alternatively or additionally,the depicted components can be located in the body, frame, or fastenersof the wearable device.

In one example, the digital signal processor (DSP) 812 includes amicroprocessor integrated circuit (IC) customized for processingelectrical signals from the microphones 115, 116 into a digital outputsignal that can be efficiently transferred out of the wearable device810, as well as processing digital input signals into electrical signalsfor the speakers 120, 121 to output as audio. The digital outputincludes two audio output channels, one from each of the microphones115, 116, that are each complimentary parts of a digital stereo outputsignal. Similarly, the digital input includes two audio input channels,which will be separately provided to each of the speakers 120, 121, thatare each complimentary parts of a digital stereo input signal. The DSP812 utilizes volatile memory. In order to reduce the amount of time thatthe DSP 812 takes when powering on to processing data, a non-volatileread only memory (ROM) may be integrated on the IC with instructions foroperating or booting the DSP 812. This ROM may be minimized to match aminimum size needed to provide basic functionality for gatheringelectrical sound signals from microphones 115, 116 and sendingelectrical sound signals to speakers 120, 121, such that no extrafunctionality that would cause delays in boot time are present. The ROMmay be configured with direct memory access (DMA) to the volatile memoryof the microprocessor of DSP 812. DMA allows memory-to-memory transferof data from the ROM to system memory of the DSP 812 independent ofoperation of a main controller of DSP 812. Providing DMA to this bootROM further reduces the amount of time from power on of the DSP 812until sound data from the microphones 115, 116 and to the speakers 120,121 can be processed and stored. In some examples, minimal processing ofthe sound signal from the microphones 115, 116 and to the speakers 120,121 is performed by the DSP 812, and additional processing may beperformed by the processor 843, as well as applications operating on themobile device 890 or server system 898.

Processor 843 may be essentially any processor capable of managingcommunications and operation of any general computing system needed forwearable device 810. Processor 843 includes processing resources neededfor managing high-speed data transfers on a wireless connection 837 to awireless local area network (WLAN) using high-speed wireless circuitry936. Processor 843 may also be configured to receive input signals orinstruction communications from mobile device 890 via a wirelessconnection 837 utilizing low-power. In some examples, the processor 843executes an operating system such as a LINUX operating system or othersuch operating system. In addition to any other responsibilities, theprocessor 843 executing a software architecture for the wearable device810 is used to manage data transfers with wireless circuitry 845.

Wireless circuitry 845 includes circuit elements for implementing awireless communication system via a network. Bluetooth™ Smart, alsoknown as Bluetooth™ low energy, is one standard implementation of awireless communication system that may be used to implement wirelesscircuitry 824. In other examples, other communication systems may beused, such as Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)802.11 communication standards, also referred to herein as Wi-Fi.

Memory 844 includes essentially any storage device capable of storingaudio data generated by the microphones 115, 116, the DSP 812, theprocessor, and incoming audio data from the mobile device 890. Whilememory 834 is shown as integrated with circuitry, in other examples,memory 844 may be an independent standalone element of the wearabledevice 810. In some examples, electrical routing lines may provide aconnection through a chip that includes the processor 843 from the DSP812 to the memory 844.

There is programming specific to the functionality of the non-echoduplex calling. This programming can be implemented in the DSP 812, theprocessor 843, the mobile device 890, or the server system 898. In thisexample, the programming of this functionality is entirely located inthe DSP 812, in order to make the management of the microphones 115, 116and speakers 120, 121 as direct as possible.

There is programming to process the analog audio signals 854, either outto the speakers 120, 121 or in from the microphones 115, 116. Thisprogramming converts between analog wave patterns of sound signals, anda digital transform of the wave patterns for more efficient storage andtransfer. This programming may also process the data with algorithmsknown to a person of skill in the art to remove duplex audio echo,similar to algorithms found in noise-cancelling headphones.

There is additionally programming to compress and decompress thesedigital audio signals 846. As an example, this includes programming tocondense signals into a smaller memory space, analogous to applyingPKZIP compression algorithms to a generic file. This programming alsomight include any algorithms that determine the standard human voicefrequency range, and removing audio data outside of that range.

Further, there is optionally programming to perform stereographicprojection processing 848, in order to best determine at what volumesvarious speakers 120, 121 should operate at relative to each other inorder to produce a clear, but relatively low decibel sound for thelistening user.

More programming exists in order to control the sound arrays 850, boththe microphones 115, 116, and both the speakers 120, 121. Thisprogramming determines when to activate certain arrays and allow audiodata to stream to or from these arrays, in order to increase callclarity. This programming activates the left microphone array 115, whichincludes any attached microphones 115A-C, and activates the rightspeaker array 121, which includes any attached speakers 121A-C, whiledeactivating or disabling the right microphone array 116, which includesany attached microphones 116A-C, and deactivating or disabling the rightspeaker array 121 which includes any attached speakers 121A-C. It alsoincludes programming to do the opposite, meaning activating the rightmicrophone array 116 and left speaker array 120, and deactivating ordisabling the left microphone array 115 and right speaker array 121.

Additionally, the programming can include a function to performalternative sampling on a duplex call 852. This programming uses thefunctions provided by the sound array activation functions 850, butalternates between performing those two function at a rate of speed highenough to create the illusion that both speaker arrays 120, 121 aresimultaneously active, when in reality each speaker array is only activewhen the other speaker array is not, which in one example isapproximately half the time. This alternation allows the user toperceive duplex audio from their speakers, while their microphone arrays115, which have a materially higher rate of sampling than a human ear,can register the alternation of the speakers, and therefore can onlypick up sound from cycles where the active speaker is on the oppositeside of the wearable device, which will be dampened by the occlusioncaused by the increased distance between microphone and speaker as wellas the user's body. A microphone array will not pick up sound from aspeaker array on the same side of the wearable device, because thatspeaker array will not be generating sound at the time the microphonearray is active and detecting sound.

FIG. 9 is a high level functional block diagram of an example of amobile device (e.g., mobile device 890) that connects to an eyeweardevice (e.g., eyewear device 100) implementation of a wearable device(e.g., wearable device 810), and then receives and performs a duplexcall with a networked mobile device (e.g., networked mobile device 892),while reducing echo by activating microphones (e.g., microphone 115) andspeakers (e.g., speaker 121) on opposite sides of the eyewear device.Although the operations of functional block diagram of FIG. 9 and FIG.10 are described with reference to devices described herein, otherdevices suitable for performing the operations will be understood by oneof skill in the art from the description herein.

In operation 900, an eyewear device 100 connects to a mobile device 890.In an example, the connection is a Bluetooth™ connection. The eyeweardevice 100 may connect (i.e., pair) with the mobile device 890 in amanner that would be known to a person skilled in the art from thedescription herein.

In operation 905 the mobile device 890 receives a duplex phone callsignal request from a second, networked, mobile device 892 via thenetwork 895.

In operation 910, the mobile device 890 indicates to the eyewear devicethat a duplex call is incoming. The user may press a first button on theeyewear device 100 in operation 915 signaling that they want to acceptthe duplex call. This indication is passed from the eyewear device 100to the mobile device 890, which opens a duplex call. The manner in whichthe user signals to the eyewear device that they wish to answer the callcould be, for example, a button press on a button of the eyewear deviceor the mobile device, a touch on a touch-sensitive area of the eyeweardevice or the mobile device, or an eye-tracking device associated withthe eyewear device or the mobile device seeking a specific pattern fromthe user's eye.

In operation 920, the eyewear device activates the left microphone 115and the right speaker 121 for conversation while deactivating the rightmicrophone 116 and the left speaker 120. The eyewear device 100activates the left side microphone 115 and the right side speaker 121,while leaving the left side speaker and right side microphonedeactivated (or vice versa) in order to reduce unwanted echo on theduplex call). The eyewear device deactivates (e.g., disables or ignores)the right side microphone 116 and prevents output from the left sidespeaker 120 when the left side microphone is active (or vice versa).Occlusion provided by distance and the user's body (e.g., head in thisimplementation) between the left side microphone 115 and the right sidespeaker 121 decreases echo on the duplex call that would otherwise bepresent if the right side microphone 116 or the left side speaker 120were activated and receiving and producing sound.

In operation 925, the call proceeds with the user's speech picked up bythe left microphone 115, and with the networked mobile device's 892speech being presented by the right speaker throughout the entire call.Both the user of the eyewear device/mobile device 890 and the user ofthe networked mobile device 892 experience less duplex echo than theywould if all speakers and microphones were activated.

At operation 930, the eyewear device or mobile device 890 receives anindication that the call is complete. The user may signal the call iscomplete by pressing a button (e.g., a second button) on the eyeweardevice or mobile device 890, signaling to the eyewear device 100 thatthe call is complete. The eyewear device then deactivates the leftmicrophone 115 and the right speaker 121, and signals to the mobiledevice 890 to disconnect from the duplex call, completing operation 935.Finally, in operation 940, the mobile device 890 disconnects from theduplex call relayed via the network 895.

FIG. 10 is a high level functional block diagram of an example of amobile device (e.g., mobile device 890) that connects to an eyeweardevice (e.g., eyewear device 100) implementation of a wearable device(e.g. wearable device 810), and then receives and performs a duplex callwith a networked mobile device (e.g., networked mobile device 892),while reducing echo by activating microphones (e.g., microphone 115) andspeakers (e.g., speaker 121) on opposite sides of the eyewear device.Additionally, in this example the eyewear device has programmingallowing it to alternate activating microphones 115, 116 and speakers120, 121 on opposite sides of the eyewear device, e.g., at a rate thatsimulates stereo calling for the user.

In operation 1000, an eyewear device 100 connects to a mobile device890. In an example, the connection is a Bluetooth™ connection. Theeyewear device 100 may connect (i.e., pair) with the mobile device 890in a manner that would be known a person skilled in the art from thedescription herein.

In operation 1005 the mobile device 890 receives a duplex phone callsignal request from a second, networked, mobile device 892 via thenetwork 895.

In operation 1010, the mobile device 890 indicates to the eyewear devicethat a duplex call is incoming. The user may press a first button on theeyewear device 100 in operation 1015 signaling that they want to acceptthe duplex call. This indication is passed from the eyewear device 100to the mobile device 890, which opens a duplex call. The manner in whichthe user signals to the eyewear device that they wish to answer the callcould be, for example, a button press on a button of the eyewear deviceor the mobile device, a touch on a touch-sensitive area of the eyeweardevice or the mobile device, or an eye-tracking device associated withthe eyewear device or the mobile device seeking a specific pattern fromthe user's eye.

In operation 1025, the eyewear device 100 alternates between operation1026 and operation 1027 in order to reduce unwanted echo on the duplexcall. In operation 1025, operation 1026 may first be performed, followedby operation 1027 is performed. Thereafter, the eyewear devicealternates between operation 1026 and operation 1027 for the duration ofthe call. This alternation may occur at a rate equal to or higher thanthe sampling rate of the human ear. For example, the alternationfrequency is greater than approximately 40 Hz (e.g., greater than 44Hz).

In operation 1026 the digital signal processor 812 activates the leftside microphone 115 and the right side speaker 121, while leaving theleft side speaker and right side microphone deactivated. The digitalsignal processor 812 deactivates (e.g., disables or ignores) the rightside microphone 116 and prevents output from the left side speaker 120when the left side microphone is active. Occlusion provided by distanceand the user's body (e.g., head in this implementation) between the leftside microphone 115 and the right side speaker 121 decreases echo on theduplex call that would otherwise be present if the right side microphone116 or the left side speaker 120 were activated and receiving andproducing sound.

Operation 1027 involves the digital signal processor 812 activating theright side microphone 116 and the left side speaker 120, while leavingthe right side speaker and the left side microphone deactivated. Thedigital signal processor 812 deactivates (e.g., disables or ignores) theleft side microphone 115 and prevents output from the right side speaker121 when the right side microphone is active. Occlusion provided bydistance and the user's body (e.g., head in this implementation) betweenthe right side microphone 116 and the left side speaker 120 decreasesecho on the duplex call that would otherwise be present if the left sidemicrophone 115 or the right side speaker 121 were activated andreceiving and producing sound.

Due to operation 1025, the user will perceive stereo sound. Despite eachspeaker 120, 121 only being on half or less of the duration of thealternating operation 1025, the switching occurs quickly enough that theuser's ears perceive constant sound coming from both the left speaker120 and the right speaker 121. Additionally, the networked mobile device892 will perceive constant sound signal from the wearable device 810,despite each microphone 115, 116 on the wearable device 810 only beingon half or less of the duration of the alternating operation 1025.

In operation 1030, the call proceeds, with the user's speech picked upby the active microphone, either left 115 or right 116, and with thenetworked mobile device's 892 speech being presented by the activespeaker, right 121 or left 120, respective to the current cycle of thealternation operation 1025. Assuming both the eyewear device and thenetworked mobile device implement the methods described herein, both theuser of the eyewear device/mobile device 890 and the user of thenetworked mobile device 892 will experience less duplex echo than theywould have were all speakers 120, 121 and microphones 115, 116 activatedfor the entirety of the duplex call.

At operation 1035, the eyewear device or mobile device 890 receives anindication that the call is complete. The user may signal the call iscomplete by pressing a button (e.g., a second button) on the eyeweardevice or mobile device 890, signaling to the eyewear device 100 thatthe call is complete. The eyewear device then deactivates themicrophones 115, 116 and the speakers 120, 121, and signals to themobile device 890 to disconnect from the duplex call, completingoperation 1040. Finally, in operation 1045, the mobile device 890disconnects from the duplex call relayed via the network 895.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein havethe ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions withrespect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and studyexcept where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be usedsolely to distinguish one entity or action from another withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,”“includes,” “including,” or any other variation thereof, are intended tocover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article,or apparatus that comprises or includes a list of elements or steps doesnot include only those elements or steps but may include other elementsor steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “a” or “an” does not,without further constraints, preclude the existence of additionalidentical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus thatincludes the element.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings,positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are setforth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, areapproximate, not exact. Such amounts are intended to have a reasonablerange that is consistent with the functions to which they relate andwith what is customary in the art to which they pertain. For example,unless expressly stated otherwise, a parameter value or the like mayvary by as much as ±10% from the stated amount.

For ease of reading in the foregoing Detailed Description, the terms“left” and “right” have been used in some places instead of “first” and“second.” It can be understood that “left” is to mean “first” when“right” is to mean “second.” Conversely, “left” is to mean “second” when“right” is to mean “first.” As previously discussed, the absolutesagittal, transversal, coronal, or directional labelling used for thefirst and second sides, microphones, speakers, and other elements arenot material—focus is to be placed upon the divided nature of thewearable, and the relative positioning between a first or second, orleft and right element, to elements of the opposing label.

In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen thatvarious features are grouped together in various examples for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed examplesrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, the subject matter to be protected liesin less than all features of any single disclosed example. Thus, thefollowing claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subjectmatter.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the bestmode and other examples, it is understood that various modifications maybe made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may beimplemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be appliedin numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein.It is intended by the following claims to claim any and allmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of thepresent concepts.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable device comprising: a body comprising afirst fastener, a second fastener, and a frame coupled between the firstand second fasteners, the frame having a first section and a secondsection, the body having a first portion including the first section ofthe frame and the first fastener and a second portion including thesecond section of the frame and the second fastener; a first speakerconnected to the first portion of the body; a second speaker connectedto the second portion of the body; a first microphone connected to thefirst portion of the body; a second microphone connected to the secondportion of the body; a processor; a memory accessible to the processor;and programming in the memory, wherein execution of the programming bythe processor configures the wearable device to perform functions,including functions to: selectively activate the first speaker;selectively activate the second microphone; emit a first output soundsignal via the activated first speaker while the first microphone andthe second speaker are deactivated; and capture a first input soundsignal via the activated second microphone during the emission of thefirst output sound signal by the activated first speaker.
 2. Thewearable device of claim 1, wherein execution of the programming by theprocessor further configures the wearable device to perform functionsto: emit a second output sound signal via the activated second speakerwhile the second microphone and the first speaker are deactivated;capture a second input sound signal via the activated first microphoneduring the emission of the second output sound signal by the activatedsecond speaker; and alternate between activating the first speaker toemit the first output sound signal and the second microphone to capturethe first input sound signal while the first microphone and the secondspeaker are deactivated, and activating the second speaker to emit thesecond output sound signal and the first microphone to capture thesecond input sound signal while the second microphone and the firstspeaker are deactivated.
 3. The wearable device of claim 2, wherein thefunction to alternate between activating the first speaker to emit thefirst output sound signal and the second microphone to capture the firstinput sound signal while the first microphone and the second speaker aredeactivated, and activating the second speaker to emit the second outputsound signal and the first microphone to capture the second input soundsignal while the second microphone and the first speaker are deactivatedfurther comprises: the first speaker converting a first audio channelinto the first output sound signal and the second speaker converting asecond audio channel into the second output sound signal, wherein thefirst output sound signal and the second output sound signal arecombined to create a stereophonic sound signal.
 4. The wearable deviceof claim 3, wherein the function to alternate alternates at a ratefaster than 40 cycles per second to simulate stereophonic sound.
 5. Thewearable device of claim 2, wherein the function to alternate betweenactivating the first speaker to emit the first output sound signal andthe second microphone to capture the first input sound signal while thefirst microphone and the second speaker are deactivated, and activatingthe second speaker to emit the second output sound signal and the firstmicrophone to capture the second input sound signal while the secondmicrophone and the first speaker are deactivated further comprises: thefirst microphone converting the first input audio input signal into afirst input sound channel and the second microphone converting thesecond input audio signal into a second input sound channel, wherein thefirst input sound channel and the second input sound channel arecombined to create a stereophonic electrical signal.
 6. The wearabledevice of claim 2, wherein execution of the programming by the processorfurther configures the wearable device to perform functions to: performacoustic echo cancellation on the second input sound signal from thefirst microphone and the first input sound signal from the secondmicrophone, and on the first output sound signal to the first speakerand the second output sound signal to the second speaker.
 7. Thewearable device of claim 1, wherein the wearable device furtherincludes: a first transducer, wherein the first microphone and the firstspeaker are co-located in the first transducer.
 8. The wearable deviceof claim 1, wherein: the wearable device is an eyewear device; the firstfastener is a first temple connected to the first section of the frameon a proximate end of the first fastener; and the second fastener is asecond temple connected to the second section of the frame on aproximate end of the second fastener.
 9. The wearable device of claim 8,wherein: the first section of the frame further comprises: a first chunkthat is integrated into or connected to the first section of the frame;the first microphone and the first speakers are connected to the firstchunk; and the second section of the frame further comprises: a secondchunk that is integrated into or connected to the second portion of theframe; the second microphone and the second speaker are connected to thesecond chunk.
 10. The wearable device of claim 8, wherein: the firstspeaker is connected to the first temple.
 11. The wearable device ofclaim 10, wherein; the first microphone is connected to the firsttemple.
 12. The wearable device of claim 1, wherein: the wearable deviceis a smartwatch; the first fastener is a buckle connected to the firstsection of the frame; the second fastener is a strap connected to thesecond section of the frame; the first microphone and the first speakerare connected to the first fastener; and the second microphone and thesecond speaker are connected to the second section of the frame.
 13. Thewearable device of claim 1, wherein: the wearable device is asmartwatch; the first fastener is a first lug and spring bar connectedto the first section of the frame; the second fastener is a second lugand spring bar connected to the second section of the frame; the firstmicrophone and the first speaker are connected to the first section ofthe frame; and the second microphone and the second speaker areconnected to the second section of the frame.
 14. The wearable device ofclaim 1, wherein: the wearable device is a bracelet; the first fasteneris a first clasp connected to the first section of the frame; the secondfastener is a second clasp configured for coupling to the first clasp,the second fastener connected to the second section of the frame; thefirst microphone and the first speaker are connected to the first clasp;and the second microphone and the second speaker are connected to thesecond section of the frame.
 15. A method for use with a wearable deviceincluding a body including a first fastener, a second fastener, and aframe coupled between the first and second fasteners, the frame having afirst section and a second section, the body having a first portionincluding the first section of the frame and the first fastener and asecond portion including the second section of the frame and the secondfastener, the wearable device further including a first speaker and afirst microphone connected to the first portion of the body and a secondspeaker and a second microphone connected to the second portion of thebody, the method comprising: selectively activating the first speaker;selectively activating the second microphone; emitting a first outputsound signal via the activated first speaker while the first microphoneand the second speaker are deactivated; and capturing a first inputsound signal via the activated second microphone during the emission ofthe output sound signal by the activated first speaker.
 16. The methodof claim 15, wherein the method further includes: emitting a secondoutput sound signal via the activated second speaker while the secondmicrophone and the first speaker are deactivated; capturing a secondinput sound signal via the activated first microphone during theemitting of the second output sound signal by the activated secondspeaker; and alternating between activating the first speaker to emitthe first output sound signal and the second microphone to capture thefirst input sound signal while the first microphone and the secondspeaker are deactivated, and activating the second speaker to emit thesecond output sound signal and the first microphone to capture thesecond input sound signal while the second microphone and the firstspeaker are deactivated.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the methodfurther includes: the first speaker converting a first output audiochannel into the first output sound signal, and the second speakerconverting a second output audio channel into the second output soundsignal, wherein the first output sound signal and the second outputsound signal are combined to create a stereophonic sound signal.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein alternation occurs at a rate faster than 40cycles per second to simulate stereophonic sound.
 19. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the method further includes: the first microphoneconverting the first input audio signal into a first input soundchannel, and the second microphone converting the second input audiosignal into a second input sound channel, wherein the first input soundchannel and the second input sound channel are combined to create astereophonic electrical signal.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein themethod further includes: performing acoustic echo cancellation on thesecond input sound signal from the first microphone and the first inputsound signal from the second microphone, and on the first output soundsignal to the first speaker and the second output sound signal to thesecond speaker.